National Republican., 1887-09-09
An Fx-Employe Talks Back.

NATlONAL
pose you have read Public Printer Bene-
diets reply in the Critic to charges made In
your paper that he was delaying the pay
ment Of money due the discharged employees
Of the government printing Office on account
Of the flfteen-day leave of absence bill
did, and was amused at the public
printer charging that the article 10 the Re-
PUBLICAN was the statement OF man dis
charged from the office, who is In the habit
Of interviewing himself, and who generally
styles himself one Of the "skilled printers
or "most intelligent employees" and
whose purpose is not to tell the truth OF
learnit that he may write correctly upon
the subjects he interviews himself. The
public printer is entirely IN error about the
skilled printer making the statement | am
not a printer (thank the Lord), but me.
chaDic In another branch while employed
In the government printing office, but will
say that II l had interviewed myself as
often as the public printer has himself in
the last few months would be proficient
in the art.
He says even my figures as to the con-
gressional appropriation are erroneous. |
suppose Mr.. Benedict Claiming to be
practical printer knows what a typographi-
cal error is. Well, that mistake Is one,
said in my statement that $4,000 had been
ibuI tchu
$4,000 Now, that little error should not
be charged against the truthfulness Of my
statement; 1t does not alter the matter; 1t
might In an election contest, but does not
IN this case.
1t was not my purpose to make any false
statement In regard to this matter, nor did
L. What charged then l charge now.
First, that the public printer has had ample
time to settle up our accounts; second,
thpra ppnl1 hp n n 10 IN ha N do
being available to pay us; third, that he did
pay number Of the discharged employees
their leave money for the second year--out
Of what appropriation leave for him to
explain.
The public printer says: "Of the -p,ro-
priation Of 1887 under which leaves OF :.
senco with pay were granted, every dollar
has been paid out, and the appropriation for
1888, now available, is pledged to leaves Of
absence allowed during the present fiscal
year. The law requires that all earnings In
this Office shall be paid out of the appropri-
alton OF the year during which the earnings
Then he goes on to say; "My clerks are
working overtime to meet the requests Of
the discharged employees claims referred
to-" AS l stated, II funds are found availa-
BILE they will be paid, and where is the sense
In the public printer working his clerks
overtime on this matter? He says every
dollar Of the appropriation for 1887 has been
spent, and the law will not permit him
to pay out OF the appropriation OF 1888, still
he says II funds are found available they
will be paid. He has decided that he can
not pay under the appropriation for either
1887 or 1888. Now, these being the only
two appropriations made for fifteen days
leave Of absence, where is he going to find
the available funds, and out OF what appro-
priation did he pay number OF the dis
charged employees, whose cases are Identical
with ours, excepting they were discharged
q little later.
The public printer says about the only
truth contained In my statement is that cir
cular letter Of his l sent you. The state
ment made in regard to him paying some
OF the employees who were discharged in
June l can verify by the ailldavits OF
at least dozen persons whom he
paid upon their making applics-
ton. Some of these aflidayits I have
now in my Possession. Now why
doesn't Mr.. Benedict come out aud tell
the truth about this matterp II he has paid
these people without any authority OF law
he is responsible to the proper accounting
officers OF the treasury, and his accounts
should not be audited. II, on the other
hand, his accounts have been audited in
| this transaction, what Is the trouble with
ours that they cannot be put through by the
same process. MY opinion Is that this mat
| ter has never been presented In a proper form
to the comptroller. Judge Durham Is too
| good lawyer and too honest to decide
cases In the manner the public printer has
stated in his answer to my statement. Why
doesn't Mr.. Benedict publish his letters to
the comptroller and the decisions thereon
We all have confidence In the ability and
honesty OF Judge Durham, and would
gladly abide by his decisions II the questions
are submitted to him in the proper manner,
The discharged employees feel very
thankful to you, Mr.. Editor, for bringing
this matter to the attention OF the public,
and hope you will keep agtating It until
these laboriDg people get their rights.
| AN EXEMPT DYE G. p D.